MOSCOW—Russia’s state censor threatened to fine Apple Inc. and Google and accuse them of interfering in elections if they don’t remove an app developed by supporters of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, in what critics say is the latest attempt to stifle criticism ahead of a parliamentary vote next month.
The communications regulator Roskomnadzor said Thursday the app enabled Mr. Navalny’s supporters to continue their campaigns after his Anti-Corruption Foundation was designated an extremist organization, banning it from operating in Russia. In August it ordered the tech giants to stop distributing the app on their stores, and said their failure to remove it could be viewed as interference in Russian elections, describing it as “a violation of Russian law.”
